January 19 – Joyful effort

Dear Friends,

The sixth factor of the eightfold path is right or wise effort. Gil Fronsdal describes this factor succinctly as follows:

Right Effort involves four different ways we can apply ourselves. When it comes to our inner thoughts, feelings, and states, we can (1) prevent, (2) overcome, (3) arouse, or (4) maintain these inner experiences. Far from being uniquely Buddhist practices, these four are common throughout human life. For example, when we avoid stress by giving ourselves ample time to get to an appointment, we are preventing; when we consciously relax our impatience while waiting for a red light to turn green, we are overcoming; when we cultivate appreciation of another person, we are arousing; and when we stay calm in difficult circumstances we are maintaining.

Right Effort: The Sixth Factor in the Noble Eightfold Path
https://audiodharma.us-east-1.linodeobjects.com/documents/178/Right_Effort_Study_Guide.pdf

The effort that is called for in any moment depends on the circumstances. Sometimes, all that’s needed is a light touch – a soft mental note might suffice on some occasions, and heroic effort might be needed other times.

I love the quality of “joyful effort” that Christina Feldman describes.

It is really important that there be a sense of joy in our practice. Joy doesn’t mean that we just have pleasant sensations, blissful experiences, or happy thoughts. It is some­thing much deeper than that. If we are going to be able to really sustain a vital and deepening spiritual practice, not only in retreats but also in our lives, that sustainability will be rooted in the kind of joy we can find in our practice and in ourselves.

“Making a Joyful Effort”, Insight Journal, Fall 2003
https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/making-a-joyful-effort/

As Christina says later in the article, “Let’s make our effort joyful.”

With good wishes,
Andrea